of battle creek



March 26, 1929. vH. F. BECHMAN PLATE GLAMPING DEVICE Filed Oct. 19. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. F. BECHMAN PLATE CLAMPING DEVICE March 26, 1929.

Filed OGE. 19, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet mail m ew nw ow. afm@ wqm .uw

X .am

mm JR N m. .mb 0.0` our@ r n ,l i v i Milill 6m. .W n# 6h. ab d e m uw n1 ew Sw Q @m m.

Patented Mar. 26,1929 i l n 1,707,108

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

HENRY lF. BECKMAN, F BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, .ASSIG-NOR TO DUPLEX PRINT- ING PRESS COMPANY, OF BATTLE CREEK, MTCHIGAN, A CORPORATION OFIMICHI- GAN.

PLATE-CLAMPING'DEVICE.

Applicationiled October 19, 1925. Serial No.` 63,518. i

This invention relates to rotaryvprintingplates, means have to be provided'to en- 55 presses and has particular reference to the gage the inner plates independently of or in means for fastening stereotype plates or connection with the means for engaging the like printing surfaces to the peripheries of outer plates.k

the plate cylinders. Various `constructions -of plate clamping The plate cylinders of ordinary rotary devices have been heretofore patented or 6o newspaper printing presses are usually used, `and have beenfound `more or less obadapted to carry eight plates each, arranged jectionable in practice; fand the. principal in four sets, each set consisting of two plates object of my invention is to provide stiff,

extending around the circumference of the rigid outer or master plate clamp,which cylinder. Each `plate is usually` the size of can be operatedrapidly, both to lock the 65 n a newspaper page, and is semi-cylindrical outer and inner printing plates'on the cylto fit the cylinder and has its curved edges inder, and -to unlock them preparatory to beveled. The beveled edges of the plates are their removal. Another object is `to proengaged by clamps connected with the plate vide for locking the inner plate when the Y cylinder, suoli clamps having their plate enoutside plate is not` needed. Another object 70 gaging edges beve ed or undercut on the is to facilitate the removal ofthe inner same angle as the beveled edges ofthe plates. plates, but in the opposite direction. The In the accompanying drawings I have il- I yplatesmust be held firmly toA thecyliiider, lustrated one practical embodiment `of my not only to resist the actionr of centrifugal invention and will .explain the same Awith 75 force as the cylinders revolve at high speed, .reference thereto to enable others to adopt `butto resist displacement when subjected to and vuse the invention; and I refer to the the printing pressure; and it is very desirclaims for summaries of the novel features able that-the plate clamping devices should of construction and novel combinations ofy be such as will enable the operatorto fasten parts for which protectioneis desired. 80y or unfasten the plates in the shortest pos- In saiddraw'ings: f sible time. Figure l is a side view of one half ofran I-Ieretofore such plate cylinders have been ordinary rotary press plate cylinder,

each provided with a central fixed clamp `equiplied with my novel plate clamping dering with which the inner edges `of the `in- 'vicesv 55 nermost plates are engaged when the plates Figure 2 is an enlarged detail section of are properly placed on the cylinder, and the cylinder and end clamp Von the line 2 2, outer edge of each inner plate is engaged by Figure. l. y

adjustable so-called center plate clamps, Figure 3 is an end view of the plate cylwhich latter clamps'are also engaged by thev inder, y which parts broken away. 90 inner edges of the outer plates; and plate Figure 4 is across section of the cylinder clamps are provided atthe outer ends of the on the line 1-@Figure 5. n cylinder to engage the outer edges of the `Figure kis a partial section of aplate 40 outer plates, and when the plates are placed cylinder with inner andlouter plates locked on the cylinder the outermost clamps are in position for printing. moved inward to engage the outer edges Figure (iis a partialy section of a plate of the outer plates and force them to enlcylinder showing the innei plate locked gagekthe center clamps andppush them in without outer plate.

45 ward into engagement with the outer. edge F igurev? is a view like Figure 5 showing of the inner plate, and move it inward unthe inner and outer plates unlocked.. n til the inner edge of the inner plate is enf Figure 8 is Van enlarged detail section on e gaged by the fixed clamp ring. To remove the line 8--8, Figure V1.` n 'Y Y the plates .it is necessary to first back oil' the The plate cylinder 1 iis shown as provided 50 outer 4clamps to release the outer plate, then with the usual grooves or slot-s l, and-with `remove the outer plate, then back off the novel clampsto receive the plates thereon.

center clamps to release the inner plate., and Only the left hand yhalf of the cylinder is then remove the inner plate. In some cases shown in Figure 1, as the right hand half where it is ynot desired `to use the outer is a duplicate of the left, but reversed.` A

ythe outer plate "P. These'clamps have bases f3 which `slide inthe slot-s lL inthe cylinder l, as usual, tliehbases 3a havingtongues engagi-ngundercut grooves llclin slots la to khold ythe Yclamps vsecurely on the cylinder whileAal-lowingy theinto-lbe slid ineither dif rection llength-wise kof g the cylinder.

- `he cylinder' is alsonprovided with outer -or inasterfclan-ips la'daptedeto engagethe outer curved edges of the outer plates P. The master v'clamps Jare preferably semicircular, v`being shown `vas approximate half iings, each extending-nearly half wayaround the cylinder. LTo enable the clamps 4 to be made ver-y stift' and rigid-the outer end of the cylinder is reduced V-indiametery as at 1b, outside of the area on which the platesrest, so that the bodyport-ion.'oteach clamp lean be made quitethiek'; as shown inFiguie Each "clamp 4- is-providedonits inner side with an inwardly projecting peripheral flange 4",-which flange isadapted to project over the periphery olii-the cylinder and-engage the outer edge Otan vouter plate P. This beveled flange e is necessarily thin, as its projection beyond the cylinder surface must be lesslthan the thickness of the-'printing plate P. The flange 41? ol' the clamp has its inner edge beveled to engage thel beveled edge of the plate P (Figure 5); and said vtlange is sowide that its'edge will engage the place P -beforethe body of the clamp contacts withthe shoulder at the inneren-d ot the reducedportioirl", when the clamp is nieved inward to clamp plates on the cylinder.

Each clamp i has a central' inwardly projecting base' portion *ab under itsfmiddle section (see Figures 5-8 Yprojecting into'the related slot l, anfdisprovided with :side tongues 4" engA ot grooveslZL to l-ioldit in Yslidable engagement with the cylinder. "The master `clamp vis also provided with a'lbloclellC near each end, similar in` shape totthe portion 4F and also sli-'dably'tittinginto the; grooves lainthe center clamps 3.

therslots lc'in the sides cylinder l; and said screw is provided with means, as ycollars 5b on opposite ,sidesA of the plate 5, to prevent endwise movement of the screw; and the outer end of the screw is shaped to be engaged by. a `wrench or other suitable .tool whereby the `screw .inay be turned.

iHavingfthe parts as thus far described, and assuming the clamps to be in position shown iii--li`igiire-1f;-and plates P and P having been placed on the cylinder, as in Figure 7; the screwf isrotated-to Yforce tlieclamp inward-toward'the platesg'the 1'"flange 4 `first engages the outerfedge of the plate 5P,

and then the continued action'otV screw 5 causes clamp 4 to push outer :plate P inward until the inner edge `of plate P contacts with the opposed beveled portion ol middle'clamp 3; then the continued rinward movementot-plateP causes the linner beveled edge ofclamp 3 to engageftlie outer edge of inner plate P -andmoves plate fP inward -until the inner edge of `plate P ei'igages yclamp 2, Yand Vby vfurther Voperation of the screw 5 the plate IP is forcibly and completely locke-d between clamp ".4- and clamp 3; and plate "P" between clamp 3 and clamp 2, the space between the plates P,P l i.' 1v v 1' oeing lilledv byV the center clamp 3,-thus by the operation oli-one screw' both platesP and are locked. i-1-+ *l l'`\' l lib places entre cy inner is piocucet yoperating Vthe related screws as Vabove described. VFourscrews5 yand related setsgot clamps will suthce to secure allieight plates en' the cylinder.

AFrequently a "full complement of plates is not requiret. "In tl case it is-usually customary to use a .narrow web o'lE paper and to -oinit printing plates 'P, and substitute dummy platestherelor (i. e., lnon-printing plates thinner than the plates `Pbut of same length) inorder that proper actuation of screw `5 may lock plate'P, as above described. Instead oi" using such t dummy l plates in my invention I employ thrust members or bars 6 between master clamps "4 and These thrustbars t3 are preferably slidablyv fitted inthe. slots IQan'd have tongues fitting in the undercut grooves -lC (like clamps lThe thrustvbars G are preferably so'inade that their outer surfaces are flush with the cylinder surface, and will support the under surface of the printing plates P opposite the grooves '11l and'thus prevent'the overlying portion of the plates being'torced by the impression pressure in printingintot-he groove.

It is preterableto make' the thrust bar A(5 'in sections, asthese ranfbe more easily'as tions 626", and-a screw' 6?, intermediate parts Ga and 6b; which screw enables the total lThelocking of'other like.

lil() length of the thrust bar to be varied. T his enables the thrust `bar to be accurately adjusted, to cause the clamps to properly engage the plates; especially if the plates should vary inlength or not be accurately finished. j

To illustrate, (see Figure 5) the screw '6" canbe adjusted until the total length yof the thrust bar (6a, t5" and exposed? part'L of screw'th) slightly less than the' distance between clamp 3, and clamp 4, thus enabling'the 'entire force'exerted bysfrew 5 upon clamp 4 to be equally expended on the plates P and P. `Wh'enonly inner plates `P are to be used, the screw 6C can be adjusted to project farther out of 6b (as shown 4 against `the outer end of the thrust bar, and move it inward against clamp 3, forceV the clamp 3 against plate P, and lock said plate betweenclamp 3 and fixed clamp 2. The said adjustment of the length. of Athrust f bar 6 is not absolutely necessary, but isad vantageoussince lby reducing lostmotion it allowsthe locking up of plates to be done in less timeafnd withless movement between the parts. t

To facilitate the removal of theplates P from the cylinder, hook bars 7` are provided. The outer end of eachhook bar is fastened to a master clamp 4 (see Figures 3 and 8) and extends preferably under thrust bar' 6 through a slot which' is preferably in the bottomof groove `la. The inner end of the hook `bar extends slightly beyond the related center clamp 3, and has a hook or pr ')jection lcon its extremity `adapted to vengage the' Vinner end of such clamp. f "InFigures 5 and 6 the plates P, P are shown lockedion thel cylinder and hook bar vis inoperative.v 4 Autuation of screw 5 in a direction to disengage clamp4l from plate P will not at first actuate clamp 3; but if such actuation `of screw 5 iscontinued it will withdraw clamp 4 from plate P and also cause hook bar 7a to engage with the inner end of clamp 3, and disengage such clamp from plate P', as shown in Figure 7; so that then` both inner and outer plates can be readily removed. t

By reducing the endof the cylinder I am able to make lthe outer or master clamps 4 thick and substantial, whereas heretofore semi-cylindric clamps have been thin, weak and springy. This construction also yenables me to. make the plate engaging portion of the master clamp, which must project over the cylinder, thinner than the plate, but yet make it very rigid because of the n'iaterial thicknessof the body of the master clamp. Another advantageous feature is the thrust bar between the master clamp and the center clip, also having such thrust bar made 1n sections for conveniencemassembling and in adjusting to differenty in 'the plate clamp guide slots in the cylinder,

and having such Athrust bar til-l the -slots and act to suppmt the portions of the plates over the slots, where they have been heretofore unsupported.

I claim: I l j l. Plate clamping means for plate cylinders, comprising ani-outer clamp, an innerV clamp, and a thrust member interposed between the outer and inner clamps whereby the inner clamp may be actuated by the 'outer clamp,'said thrust member having its outersurface flush with the surface of the cylinder to assist in supporting a plate.

2. Plate clamping means' comprisingfan outer clamp, an inner clamp, and a thrust member interposed between the outer' and inner clamps whereby theV inner clamp may be actuatedfby the outer clamp; and means `actuated by the outer clamp to .positivelyy release the inner clamp. 3. Plate` clamping' means'comprlsing an outer clamp, an inner clamp, and athrust member interposed between the outer and inner clamps whereby the inner clamp may be actuated by the outer clamp; and "a hook bar connected with the outer clamp and adapted torelease the inner clamp. 'f 4. vIn combination with a cylinder having a groove, an inner clamp in said groove, an

outer clamp, andy a thrust member in said groove interposed betweenthe inner and outer clamps, whereby the inner fclampmay be actuated by the outer clamp, said'thrust member having its outer surfaceV flush with the outer surface of the cylinder to support the plates.

' 5. In combination with mechanismV as set forth in claim 4, a member actuated lby the outerclamp adapted to positively release the inner clamp. i

6. In combination with mechanism as set forth in claim 4,a hook member connected with the outer clampand adapted to disengage the inner clamp from the plate. i

-7. Plate clamping means comprising an outer clamp, an'inner clamp, andV a sectional adjustable thrust member interposed between' theouter andl inner clamps whereby the inner clamp may be actuated by the outer clamp. j'

8. Plate clamping means comprising an outer clamp an inner clamp, and a sectional outer clamp and ada ptcd to release the inner clamp.

9. In combinationi with a cylinder having a groove, an inner clamp in said groove, an outer clamp, and a sectional adjustable thrust member in said groove interposed between the inner and outer clamps, whereby the inner clam-p may be Lactuated by the outer clamp, said thrust member having its outer surface flush with the outer surface of the .cylinder to support the plates.

10. In combination with mechanismas set forth in claim 9, a means lactuated bythe outer clamp adapted to positively release the inner clamp. i

ll. In combination with mechanism as set forth in.v claim 9, al hook member operated by the outer clamp adapted t-o disengage; the inner clamp from the plate;

l2. Inl combination aplate cylinder having a portion adjacent the plater supporting area substantially reduced in diameter, a parti- .cylindric clamp body slidably mounted' upon said reduced portion and having a=flange en its inner edge of less thick-ness than thefbody and adapted to project over and beyondv the adjacent edge of the plate supporting. area to engage plates thereon, which.,I may vary in size or be shorter than the plate supporting area, andAmeans whereby the yclamp body maybe moved axially of the-.cylinder to cause said llange te engage or disengage a plate.. 1'

13. In combination' as plate cylinderhaving a portion adjacent the plate supporting area substantially reduced in diameterand provided' with av -plurality of longitudinal grooves in the plate supporting portion exterior :to said reducedl portion, a parti-cylin- Vdric clamp body slidably mounted upon: said reduced portion and haring a flange on its inner edge adapted to project. over and: beyond the adjacent edge of theplate supporting area `to engage plates of various sizes thereon, members connected with said clamp and4 engaging the said grooves in.v the cylinder, and means whereby the clamp body may be moved axially of the cylinder 'to cause said flange to engage or disengage a plate.

'14. Invv combination with a cylinder having its end substantially reduced in diameter adjacent the plate supporting area and provided with a plurality of longitudinal grooves in` its plate supporting portion exterior to said reduced portion,.a parti-cylindnic clamp body slidably mounted upon said reduced end of the cylinder and having a clamping flange on its inner edge extending longitudinally of the bodyand adapted to vproject over the `adjacent edge of the ,plate supporting area of the cylinder tov engage a platethereon ,.members connected withy said body and engaging the said grooves `in. the cylinder; and a screw' operatively connected with the'body and the cylinder, whereby the body may bemoved axially of the cylinder-to cause said flange to engage er disengage a plate.

15; In combination, a pla-te cylinder having a: plate-supportingzarea appreeiably longergt'han a printing plate, anda portion .atthe cuterv end of .sa-id' area sulvst'antially reduced .inY diameter, a curved clamp member mount'- ed on; .said reduced pertion and provided on its inner edge with a. curved yflange thinner than the plate, andfailaptedy to projectover the .said area -toengage ythe edges of plates et varying length without .contact oi the bedy of the clamp member with the end' ot' the said: plate support-ing area..

116. In. combination,v aA plate cylinder liaving. af plate supporting area, and a reduced portien'- at the outer end; of said; area, a `curved `.clan'xp member mountedzon.P said reduced per- `er than-the printing` plateand aiv reduced. per'- tion at the end, 4a curved clamp.v member mounted on thevreduced portion ofv the cylinder provided with a curvedI flange; said 'flange beingctliinner than the plate and rectangular insection except the-plate engaging end, such end beingI beveled, the inner surfaceof saidr flange having approximately. the same -radius thesurface of: the plate cylinder Iand adapted to ride upon said surface and adapted to project axially over the same teenable the beveled edge-torengage the edge of the plate Without contact of the thicker -member of; the1 clamp with the end of the said portion ofV the cylinder.

In testimony that I clainr the foregoing as my own, I aix my signature.

HENRY F. BECHMAN. 

